Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [ley weyst]
- /leɪ weɪst/
- /leɪ weɪst/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [ley weyst]
- /leɪ weɪst/
Definitions of lay waste words
- verb with object lay waste to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return; use to no avail or profit; squander: to waste money; to waste words. 1
- verb with object lay waste to fail or neglect to use: to waste an opportunity. 1
- verb with object lay waste to destroy or consume gradually; wear away: The waves waste the rock of the shore. 1
- verb with object lay waste to wear down or reduce in bodily substance, health, or strength; emaciate; enfeeble: to be wasted by disease or hunger. 1
- verb with object lay waste to destroy, devastate, or ruin: a country wasted by a long and futile war. 1
- verb with object lay waste Slang. to kill or murder. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of lay waste
First appearance:
before 1150 One of the 7% oldest English words
1150-1200; 1960-65 for def 6; (adj.) Middle English < Old North French wast (Old French g(u)ast) < Latin vāstus desolate; (v.) Middle English < Old North French waster (Old French g(u)aster) < Latin vāstāre, derivative of vāstus; (noun) Middle English < Old North French wast(e) (Old French g(u)aste), partly < Latin vāstum, noun use of neuter of vāstus, partly derivative of waster; Old North French w-, Old French gu- by influence of cognate with Frankish *wōsti desolate (cognate with Old High German wuosti)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Lay waste
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
lay waste popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
lay waste usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for lay waste
verb lay waste
- devastate — If something devastates an area or a place, it damages it very badly or destroys it totally.
- eat up — to take into the mouth and swallow for nourishment; chew and swallow (food).
- overwhelm — to overcome completely in mind or feeling: overwhelmed by remorse.
- ruin — ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.
- ravage — to work havoc upon; damage or mar by ravages: a face ravaged by grief.
noun lay waste
- downfall — descent to a lower position or standing; overthrow; ruin.
- destroyer — A destroyer is a small, heavily armed warship.
- undoing — the reversing of what has been done; annulling.
- destruction — Destruction is the act of destroying something, or the state of being destroyed.
- bane — The bane of someone or the bane of someone's life is something that frequently makes them feel unhappy or annoyed.
Antonyms for lay waste
verb lay waste
- construct — to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
- create — To create something means to cause it to happen or exist.
- release — to lease again.
- accumulate — When you accumulate things or when they accumulate, they collect or are gathered over a period of time.
- store — an establishment where merchandise is sold, usually on a retail basis.
noun lay waste
- success — the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
- building — A building is a structure that has a roof and walls, for example a house or a factory.
- creation — In many religions, creation is the making of the universe, Earth, and creatures by God.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with l
- Words starting with la
- Words starting with lay
- Words starting with layw
- Words starting with laywa
- Words starting with laywas
- Words starting with laywast
- Words starting with laywaste